Networked Blogs

Our Decade of Adventure Comes to a Close…

Posted by Tony & Cheri on November 29, 2014

Ten years ago we decided to move to the tropics and run a small hotel by the Caribbean Sea. We quit our jobs, left our home and set out in a van loaded with pets and belongings. Our adventure had begun, and we were living the dream.

Truthfully, a lot of our friends thought we were nuts. They might have been right. We didn’t know anything about running a hotel or about Mexico. We were just rolling the dice to see what might happen. As it turned out, luck was on our side. We discovered life south of the border to be sweet and special, and to our surprise we actually weren’t half bad at operating a hotel and bar.

Oh, it wasn’t always smooth sailing. There were plenty of bumps in the road, from hurricanes to drug war hysteria to just plain nasty people. As Jimmy Buffett sang about his own tropical adventures… “Good times and riches and son-of-a-bitches, I’ve seen more than I can recall.” And Jimmy never had to battle Expedia! Yet, the good far outweighed the bad, and we have never once regretted that decision to head down the Margarita Road.

However, if there is one thing we have learned in our travels it is that nothing lasts forever. Things change and every adventure must come to an end. So it is with this particular dream. We are soon going to be leaving the Luna Blue. The hotel has been sold, and if all goes as planned the new owners will take over early next year.

There are a couple of reasons why this is happening now. First of all, our partners in the company which owns the Luna Blue want to move on to new investments. And for us personally it is simply a matter of needing a break. We have gotten older, as everyone does, and have found the 24/7 demands of running the hotel and bar to be more than we can keep up with at times, especially in light of Tony’s recent heart attack. It is the right decision at the right time for all concerned.

To those of you who love the Luna Blue as we do, we want to reassure you that good people are taking it over. We like them very much and ask all our friends to give them the same support we have always enjoyed. They have many terrific plans for improving the hotel and bar while remaining true to its tropical ambiance. They also told us that while they are bringing in a new management team, they will keep any of the current staff who wish to remain. They also seem especially happy to be gaining two new cats in Frankie and Callie. And of course all existing reservations will be honored. The Luna Blue is just going to keep getting better and better.

As for the two of us, who knows what adventures wait down the road? Yes, this is a bittersweet moment. The Luna Blue has been the focus of our life since we first walked in the front gate in the spring of 2004. It has been our “baby,” and letting go will be very difficult. There have already been some tears, and there will undoubtedly be more. Still, we are very excited about the many opportunities and possibilities that lie ahead. We do know the first thing on our “to do” list is spending some time on those beautiful beaches we were always sending our guests to but rarely got the chance to visit ourselves. We might finally get a tan!

We are also comforted by the fact that when we leave the Luna Blue we will take with us wonderful friendships and great memories. We know any success we enjoyed came from the love and support offered by family, friends, our fantastic employees, Playa’s locals, other expats and our many guests over the years. We thank you all and will never forget you. Ever.

We hope as many of you as possible stop by the Luna Blue during the next couple of months so we can personally express our thanks for your support over the years. We also are going to have one more pool party, tentatively scheduled for January 25th. It will be our farewell event and we intend to make it something very special. We hope to see you there. Watch our Facebook page and this blog for further details.

Once again, from our hearts, thanks to all of you who have been part of our Luna Blue Family. See you on the beach!

36 Responses to “Our Decade of Adventure Comes to a Close…”

Halinasaid

All the best to you both in your sun-kissed skin! This is the beginning of a new adventure for you now. Here’s hoping that the next 10 years are as fulfilling and as full of adventure as the past 10 have been! One last request: We hope that the “Farewell Pool Party” can take place while we’re in Playa, before Jan 15th PLEASE, please?

Brenda Orzensaid

We are so happy for you both it could not have happened at a better time. Tony and Cheri you both need to relax and enjoy Playa like the rest of us and pray this will speed up Tony’s healing process. God bless you both it has been a wonderful 10 years filled with many many happy memories. Love you Both Dave & Bren

Eileen Cushing-Craigsaid

This post makes me both happy and sad. Happy that you will both get some free time to enjoy life in Mexico together, but sad that I never got to enjoy your hospitality as a guest of the Luna Blue. Best of luck to you both! ❤

Marj Brosisaid

So sorry to hear that you two are moving on. Congratulations and all the best wishes for your future. I hope the Luna Blue will not loose it’s charm. Love it there! And am hoping your big farewell party gets postponed until we get there in the first week of February. I hate missing a good party and you guys sure know how to put one on!

leslie austinsaid

I met you two the first year the Luna Blue was opened. I love you both and hope that the future will be bright. If you are staying in the area, maybe we can finally spend some time together on those beautiful beaches. Will plan on being there for the good buy, as I was for the beginning……. All my love, Leslie

Christinesaid

We wish you the best in your next adventure! We came to the Luna for the 1st time in 2007 and just booked our 3rd stay with you guys just yesterday. Sounds like we will miss you as our visit is in the end of March but perhaps we may see you at the Luna Bar visiting. You guys made us fall in love with Playa and have shared our many stories with our friends about how magical your place is and how truly amazing you guys are. Again we will you all the best!
Hugs – Bart & Christine

Andrea and Dicksaid

Wishing the best to our “almost neighbors”! We know that what ever you decide to do will be a success and that you will have fun doing it! We will be sure to get in to see you.
Andrea and Dick – Paamul

Cheri & Tony, Congratulations to both of you and best wishes for your future adventures. We discovered Luna Blue in 2011 and have made many stops at the wonderful bar and have enjoyed several parties there including the big Halloween party this year. We also stayed with you guys on two occasions. We obviously love Luna Blue. The employees there are special. And, we have met some wonderful new friends there too. We will miss you at the property, but, may find you on the beaches!

John and Fransaid

Thanks for being there and making the Luna Blue what it is. You certainly deserve to let someone else take the reins. It was always nice that we knew friendly and helpful people when we were there. Good luck. Enjoy the sackful of happy memories you have earnt.

Eileen Woodsaid

Best of luck and thanks for all the wonderful memories. It’s been a great ride and a labor of love….that always showed. Staying at Luna Blue felt like “home” and that was due to you both, your wonderful staff and of course Frankie…

Louisesaid

Right on T&C. Congrats!!! 🙂 Couldn’t be happier for you!!! 🙂 You have done enough… more than enough. Now is the time to think about yourselves and each other. Bry said that we will try our best to be there for Luna Blue’s farewell party. Hope we can! 🙂 We love you and still keep you in our prayers. Take care, dear friends. We love you. Hugs and Love, xoxox

Slicksaid

This is so sad. I stayed last February for our engagement photo shoot (you couldn’t have missed my fiancé she was wearing Indian clothes as we waited for the van). Then my brother and his friend stayed there a few weeks later as well. I really enjoyed this place, nice people at a fair price. Good luck and I hope the rates don’t go way up after you leave.